But not for me....

to say he was less than the perfect human being. For today, remember him this way.

It seems strange but this had very little impact on me at all. I can't remember where I was or what I was doing. It's not like when Elvis or Marc Bolan died a few years before or Joe Strummer or John Peel. I wouldn't even have been able to guess what time of year it was.

Imagine how an equivalent person today would have been 'done' prior to (and after) that shot. He looks like he could do with upping his water intake for starters - skin and hair both very dry - or have a moisturise. He must have had a late night too.

...but I recall Xmas didn't feel quite so merry that year.

where I was when I heard.

In front of the telly.

More importantly though 25 years ago today I strolled along from the upper west side restaurant where Id just got a job as a waiter to the Dakota apartments to think how very long ago it was that John was shot. Ah youth.

Couldn't figure why several people were crying.
Someone told me when I got to class.
Punk year zero had wiped out the Beatles for us but when I got home I put on the family copy of Revolver. Staggering.

The rest of us weren't that bothered.

I have a very vivid school memory of a mate, Simon James, fishtail parka a-flap, "consoling" a girl called Tanya Messom. Who happened to be very, very pretty. I was walking out of the French Block as I spotted this. "You've heard the sad news then, Simon?" I yelled. He aimed a kick at me between the railings, missed and barked his shin.

and tried to think of ways we could cash in on it.

Couldn't think of any, as it turned out.